Cavemen wrestlers keep their eyes on the prize

The lights will be shining down on the Santa Ana Star Center floor, covered in wrestling mats in what will most likely be the biggest tournament many Carlsbad Cavemen wrestlers have been in, but it still comes down to what happens in the circle on that mat.

"You just don't think about that. You take it one match at a time, don't psych yourself out and stick to your game plan," said Joel Barrett, who is wrestling in the 285-pound weight class.

While it may be Barrett's first rodeo, for a number of other Cavemen it isn't their first time wrestling for a state title. The size and grandeur of the event won't be a factor for Carlsbad's more experienced wres-tlers, but the pressure of a state meet will provide plenty of anxiety on its own.

"You have to get out of your own head," said Ethan Holguin, the Cavemen's 182-pound wrestler.

Wrestling is obviously a very physical sport, but Carlsbad coach Robert Hernandez often worries more about what goes on in his wrestlers' minds more than what their bodies can or can't do.

"You have to find that balance. Some guys never find it, some do." Hernandez said. "It is finding both the mental toughness and the physical."

The cliché of mind over matter may be repeated ad nauseum in sports, but that's the battle Carlsbad's wrestlers face as they head north to Rio Rancho for the state wrestling meet. Hernandez said his team has been preparing with shorter but more intense practices.

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"We're going to be wrestling faster now, so we have to adjust practices to accommodate," Hernandez said. "They have to know it is just another tournament though, one match at a time. You can't look ahead to see who you might face."

Hernandez makes it sound simple when he says he wants his guys to win quickly with a pin; and if they lose, to force their opponent to exert all his energy and never want to tangle with Carlsbad again. But he also knows it isn't that easy.

"Mental toughness is the biggest thing about wrestling. We have to prepare them how to win or lose," Hernandez said. "You want them to feel like they can win no matter what the score is; they need to know they can come back and win with a pin quickly."

With the fields set for this weekend, the Cavemen have to transfer all the mental and physical preparation to the mat at Santa Ana Star Center.

While Hernandez sees the odds are against them winning a team state title, he has high expectations for his team even if he didn't cite specifics on which wrestlers he thought could win it all.

"I always say something and it doesn't happen, so I don't want to do anything to jinx them, hex them or anything." Hernandez said.

After placing 7th with 10 wrestlers last year, Hernandez expects a similar or better showing this year and wants to avoid any regression.

"I don't know how we placed fourth in district, but we have to put that behind us and have everyone step up." Hernandez said.

Hernandez expects strong runs from several wrestlers including Jimmy Quintela at 152 pounds. Quintela was a runner-up last season and has his sights set on being a state champion.

"I've had it on my mind a lot, I haven't been thinking in class. It is all state," Quintela said. "I know last year I was a surprise, but this year I have the bull's eye on my back."

Daniel Samaniego at 126 also has high expectations for himself as well as Nathan Guillermo.

"Knowing how I've performed in the past, I just try to visualize each match in my head," Guillermmo said.

The Cavemen look to make what's on their minds a reality when the state meet begins today at 10 a.m.

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